New York, Jan 20, 2026 — US-based regional charter airline Tailwind Air has filed for bankruptcy protection at the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on January 15, 2026, marking a major setback for the small operator less than two years after exiting scheduled services.
Tailwind Air, headquartered in New York, had shut down its short-lived scheduled seaplane operations in 2024, which connected downtown Manhattan with Boston and Washington, DC. Following the withdrawal, the airline shifted its focus to on-demand charter flights, operating a limited fleet of executive aircraft.
The carrier had also outlined ambitious plans in the electric aviation sector. In 2021, Tailwind Air partnered with startup Airflow—later acquired by Electra.aero—to explore the electrification of amphibious regional air services along the US East Coast. However, the project failed to progress amid financial constraints.
According to media reports, Tailwind Air’s liabilities are estimated to be between $5 million and $10 million, and the airline was unable to secure sufficient funding to sustain operations.
In December 2024, the airline’s Commuter Air Carrier Authorization was revoked following its exit from the scheduled market. In the months that followed, Tailwind Air sold off its entire jet fleet, which included a Cessna Citation CJ3 and several Dassault Falcon business jets.
The future of Tailwind Air remains uncertain, and it is unclear whether the airline will be able to successfully restructure or resume operations under bankruptcy protection.
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